Media accountability commission soon

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 10 January 2013

A two-member commission will be formed by the Supreme Court to establish media regulations ahead of general elections. Proposed members include former judge Justice Nasir Alam Zahid and former minister Javed Jabbar.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court is to constitute a two-member commission that will decide terms of reference for the media before the general elections, The Express Tribune reported on its website Thursday.

Tribune.com.pk, quoting journalist Hamid Mir, who filed a media accountability petition along with colleague Absar Alam, said the commission members will be announced on January 15.

Mir spoke to the media outside the Supreme Court after a hearing of his petition.

The names of former judge Justice Nasir Alam Zahid and former information minister Javed Jabbar were proposed for the commission.

The petitioners have requested the Supreme Court to set a time frame for the commission to give recommendations on content regulation and ensure its implementation before the general elections.

The media commission will also announce terms regarding the misuse of secret funds by as many as 27 ministries, including the information ministry.

According to the petition, these institutions have allegedly used an amount of Rs5 billion under the head of secret funds to manipulate the media, the Tribune reported.

KEY POINTS:

• Supreme Court to form a media accountability commission
• Commission members to be announced on January 15
• Focus on terms of reference for media regulation
• Request for time frame to implement recommendations
• Investigation into misuse of Rs5 billion secret funds by 27 ministries